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DJ Shefitza - the original Balkan girl

Having earned the nickname "Shefitza" from the closest friends back in the 90's, I have decided to keep using it later on as a DJ.

After many years of house based parties, I organised my first KoKoLo, a small party born in 2002 in a basement of a north London club. Many years later, and after living in the Balkans, I came back to London and continued with the events, adding strong flavour of Balkan Gypsy tunes and later on Electro Swing beats, with live performances from bands based in the UK and Europe.

I had monthly residency at the Magic Garden in Battersea back in 2011, then added Balkankan & SwingStep events at Ginglik, and soon after followed up by promoting events at the famous Hootananny, world music venue in Brixton. I organised and performed at the Official After Party for Caravan Palace, Boban & Marko Markovic, Fanfare Ciocarlia, Shantel & the Bucovina Orkestar and have supported Orkestra del Sol, Radio Zastava, and had guest appearances at Balkan Sonik, Rumpus, BalkanBeats London & Balkan Bombastic in Paris.

My love for Balkan Gypsy music was helping me on my soul healing journeys and I remember clearly singing old tunes while growing up in the Balkans. Having sung in a choir, I was always asked by my grandad to sing while traveling with him on long railway journeys around the country. All those memories are coming alive and all those old tunes full of stories are today writing a modern story of a Balkan girl in London who wants to give everyone an opportunity to enjoy in the sounds of traditional Balkan music. Much of it comes with a modern twist and that revival is helping to keep them fresh and forever in our hearts.